| Puzzle 1: Red to move and win |
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Red wants to take advantage of the awkward position of the black rook. If Black can set free the rook Red will be in trouble.
Red wants to achieve a checkmate or transform the position into the won endgame Cannon and advisor vs. 2 advisors.
The horse cannot win against 2 advisors, therefore 1.C2-1? P6.5 2.C2.5 P5+1 is a draw.
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1. C2+8 K4+1
2. C2-6 K4-1
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2. ... R5.2
3. C2.6 A5+4
4. H6+8 mate
1 point for this sideline
2. ... A5+4
3. H6+4 K4-1
4. C2.6 A4-5
5. H4-5
yields a position of the main line.
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3. C2.6
1 point
3. ... K4.5
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3. ... A5+4
4. H6+4 A4-5
5. H4-5 brings us to the main line (1 point)
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4. H6+4 K5.4
5. H4-5 K4+1
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5. ... R5.2
6. H5+6 mate
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6. C6-2
This move (2 points) brings Black into Zugzwang:
6. ... A5-4 7. H5-6 mate, 6. ... A5+6 7. H5-6 mate, 6. ... R5.1 7. H5+6 K4+1 8. A5+6 mate (Answer3, 1 point) 6. ... P6.5 7. A4+5 and Zugzwang is complete (Answer2, 1 point)
6. ... P6+1
After 6. ... P6.7 the game continues as in the main line, but Black won't even get the horse, e.g. 6. ... P6.7 7. H5-6 A5+4 8. H6-4 A4-5 9. H4-5 P7+1 10. H5+7 P7.8 11. C6-1 and Red wins (1 point).
7. H5-6 A5+4
8. H6-4 A4-5
9. H4-5 P6.5
2 points for the rest of the main line, Red will capture Black's pawn (e.g. as in Answer1), the resulting endgame cannon and advisor vs. 2 advisors is a book win.
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| Puzzle 2: Red to move and checkmate |
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This positions was seen with reversed colours in a Chinese master game in 1986.
On a first glance Red seems to have some problems to release the pin on the 6th file.
A closer look reveals that Black's defence collapses immediately if the only defending piece, the black cannon, is eliminated.
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1. R4+3
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After this move (1 point) the black king is without defence against the combined attack of Red's cannon, horse and pawn.
1. ... A5+6
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1. ... K6.5
2. H8+7 mate
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2. C5.4 A6-5
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2. ... K6.5
3. H8+7 K5+1
4. P5+1 K5.4
5. P7-6
With threats C4.6 mate and H6+8 mate
5. ... A4+5
6. C4.6 A5+4
7. H6+8 mate
1 point for this side line (Answer3)
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3. P5.4 A5+6
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3. ... K6.5
4. H8+7 mate
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4. P4+1 K6.5
5. H8+7 K5+1
6. H7-6 K5-1
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6. ... K5.4
7. C6.4 mate
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7. P4+1
Threatening not only 8. H6+7 mate, but also 8. P4+1 K5.6 H6+4 mate (1 point for P4+1)
7. ... C5-8
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7. ... R7-1
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7. ... A4+5
8. P4.5 K5.4
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8. ... K5.6
9. H6+4 mate
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9. C4.6 mate
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8. K4-1 R7.3
9. P4+1 K5.6
10. H6+4 mate
1 point for the refutation of the alternatives to 7. ... C5-8 (Answer2)
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8. C4.5 C5.4
9. H6+5 mate
1 point for the final moves of the main line (Answer1).
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| Puzzle 3: Red to move and checkmate |
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At first sight Red seems to be in trouble,
Black has material advantage and a strong attack, Red cannot force a running mate.
On the other hand, Black neither has a running mate, thus Red has the time to strengthen his attack with a quiet move.
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| 1. P+.2 |
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An immediate 1.C1+7 would allow 1.... E7+9 2.P++1 K6+1 H4+2 K6+1 and Black's king has escaped.
Therefore, Red imprisons the black elephant, prevents E7+9 and sets up the threat 2.C1+7 K6+1 3.H4+2 K6+1 4.C1-2 mate.
3 points for the key move 1.P+.2
1. ... A5+4
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1. ... K6.5
2. C1+7 A5-6
3. H4+6 K5+1
4. C1-1 mate
1 point for this side line (Answer5)
1. ... E5-3
2. C1+7 E7+5
3. P2+1 E5-7
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3. ... K6+1
4. H4+2 K6+1
5. C1-2 mate
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4. P2.3 K6+1
5. H4+2 K6+1
6. C1-2 mate
1 point for this side line (Answer4)
1. ... A5+6
2. C1+7 K6+1
3. H4+6 R1.2
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3. ... A6-5
4. P2.3 K6+1
5. H6-5 mate
1 point
3. ... K6.5
4. C1-1 mate
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4. P2.3 K6.5
5. C1-1 mate
1 point (Answer3)
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2. C1+7 K6+1
3. P2.3 K6+1
4. H4-3 E5+7
4. ... E5+3 and 4. ... E5-3 can be treated in the same way, all other allow H3+2 mate or H3+5 mate.
5. H3+5 K6.5
6. C1-5
Threatening C1.5 mate
6. ... K5-1
7. C1+4 K5+1
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7. ... K5-1
8. H5+4 K5.6
9. C1+1 E7+9
10. H4+3 mate
1 point for this side line (Answer2)
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8. H5+3 K5.6
9. C1-4
Black has no defence against the mate threat H3-5 K6.5 C1.5.
He can only defer the end with P4+1 K5.6 R1.4 K6+1.
2 points for the final moves of the main line (Answer1).
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